The Asian
Paralympic Committee (APC) on Thursday signed the Host City Contract with the
Organising Committee for the Tashkent 2025 Asian Youth Para Games that is set
to take place between September and October 2025.
The Tashkent
2025 Games will be the fifth edition of the Asian Youth Para Games and is
expected to witness around 1000 athletes from a record 45 nations (earlier has
been 43) taking part in 11 Para sports (that included 10 Paralympic sport).
This will be the first time a multi-Para sport Games will be held in the
Central Asian region, leaving a legacy for the region and inspiring the
Paralympic Movement.
This will be
also the first time that the Asian Youth Games and Para Games will be hosted in
the same city under the same Organising Committee, following the format of
Asian Games and Asian Para Games.
The last edition
of the Asian Youth Para Games was held in Manama, Bahrain in December 2021
which was participated by over 700 young athletes from 30 countries competing
in nine sports.
At the end, Iran
finished on top with 144 medals including 51 golds, followed by Thailand (38
golds) and Japan (32 golds). NPC Uzbekistan was handed over the APC flag from
NPC Bahrain at the closing ceremony of the 2021 Games.
The signing
ceremony, which was held virtually on Thursday, was attended by President Majid
Rashed and CEO Tarek Souei representing Asian Paralympic Committee, while
Minister of Youth Policy and Sports in Uzbekistan H.E. Ikramov Adkham
Ilkhamovich and NPC Uzbekistan President H.E. Mukhtorkhon Tashkhodjaev were
present from the organisers' side.
Speaking at the
ceremony, Rashed congratulated NPC Uzbekistan and the organisers on official
confirmation of Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, as the host city.
"Today is
an important day for us as we sign the host city contract for the Tashkent 2025
Games. As we aim to make an inclusive world, it's important the Movement
reaches every corner and especially our youth, the future. The Hangzhou 2022
Games are fast approaching but we are equally excited about the Tashkent 2025
Games.
"During my
recent visit to Tashkent, I met with various officials and stakeholders of the
Games and was happy to witness NPC Uzbekistan's eagerness and enthusiasm to
host the Games in 2025. We are also excited about the Olympic and Paralympic
Town in Tashkent which will stage all the sport competitions in the same
location.
"We are
looking forward to a great event in 2025."
Rashed also
highlighted the huge growth of Paralympic Movement in Uzbekistan over the years
when its athletes achieved excellent results in events including the recent
Paris 2023 World Para Athletics Championships - Uzbekistan athletes were among
the top Asian finishers with several gold medals.
He hoped that
the nation would produce amazing results at the upcoming Hangzhou 2022 Asian
Para Games with several podium finishes.
A proud NPC
Uzbekistan President Tashkhodjaev said: "We are an ambitious country and
have steadily been increasing our delegation size and the number of medals won
at both the Asian Para Games and the Paralympic Games. "Staging the 2025
Asian Youth Para Games shows our commitment to developing the next generation
of Para athletes and we are delighted that our country will be welcoming the
best of Asia's youth to the Central Asian region in two years' time."